Army to commence nationwide exercises to ensure safe Yuletide
The Nigerian Army will soon commence a nationwide military exercise to ensure the safety of Nigerians during the yuletide season.
Addressing newsmen on the exercise at the Army Headquarters, yesterday, Director Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, noted that in line with the Nigerian Army Training Directive for the year 2023, troops of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with Sister Services and other security agencies would be conducting training exercises across the country from October to December 2023.
According to him, the exercise designed to improve individual and collective professional competence would dovetail into real time operations to tackle various peculiar security challenges in the geo-political zones.
Nwachukwu explained: “The exercises are codenamed ‘GOLDEN DAWN III’ in the South East, ‘ENDURING PEACE III’ in the North Central and ‘STILL WATERS III’ in the South South and South West.”
“Exercise GOLDEN DAWN III, taking place in the South East is aimed at tackling security challenges such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, communal clashes and sundry crimes which become more pronounced in the build-up to the yuletide, when many citizens return home to celebrate.
“The exercise will focus on enhancing the capabilities of our troops in intelligence gathering and effective, proactive response to criminalities. With the exercise, we aim to improve the security in the South East and ensure safety of the populace during the period that will culminate in the yuletide.
“Exercise ENDURING PEACE III, taking place in the North Central is primarily to address farmer-herder conflicts, cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping, ethno-religious conflicts and terrorism, among others.
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“The exercise will equip our troops with the necessary skills to combat banditry, including hostage rescue operations, intelligence-driven raids and effective coordination with other sister services and security agencies.
“Exercise STILL WATERS III, taking place in the South-South and South-West will target the menace of cultism, robbery and kidnapping. It will equally seek to address the challenges of pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage.
“The exercise will also focus on securing critical infrastructures. Our troops would be trained on advanced surveillance techniques, rapid response tactics and the use of technology to effectively counter pipeline vandalism. By conducting this exercise, we aim to curb economic sabotage, protect national assets and ensure a stable environment for economic growth.”
Nwachukwu noted that the Nigerian Army recognises the importance of collaboration and synergy among various security agencies in boldly confronting security challenges facing the country.
“Accordingly, the Nigerian Army has been working closely with sister services and other agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service among others, to ensure well coordinated and effective responses to these threats. Joint training exercises and intelligence sharing will be key components of our approach.
“Finally, let me reiterate that the Nigerian Army is fully resolute and committed to surmounting emerging security challenges in troubled parts of the country. Through the upcoming training Exercise STILL WATERS III, Exercise GOLDEN DAWN III and Exercise ENDURING PEACE III, we project to enhance the capabilities of our troops, improve synergy with sister services and other security agencies and ultimately ensure the safety and security of the populace,” he added.
